The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-09-28

the patients, 10 SOME extent, upon O'AIOA
lands that he has near the Asylum.
Charge No. Z. That the manager APP
propriates provisions, which are sup
Piled by the Government for the use of
the patients, for the use of his own pri
vate visitors, at times leaving the pa
tients an insufficient quantity of food.
We do not find that the Manager has
appropriated provisions for his own pri-
vate table that should go to the patients,
or that he entertains visitors beyond
reasonable exercise of hospitality.
Second, as to the condition of the
buildings of the Asylum. The buildings
are all in very poor condition, and are
in no way suited for the purpose for
which they are used. They are past re-
pair and are infested with vermin. The
kitchen and storerooms, which are pre-
sided over by prisoners from Oahu
Prison, who do all OF the cooking, were
in a filthy condition. The different
rooms through the buildings were not
as neatly kept as they might be, and the
bedding was .scant and in bad condition.
Third, as to the care and treatment OF
the patients
In the first place, there are not enough
attendants to properly { are for the pa
tients, and those that are there have
never had the proper instruction or
training to enable them to perform their
duties as they should There are no
female attendants at all, and the dress
ing, undressing and bathing OF female
patients is done by Hawaiian men, no
matter what the nationality OF the pa
tient may be. A large portion of the
patients are kept in an airing court dur
ing the day, which is hot and uncom-
Portable. Violent cases are stripped OF
their clothing, and put into a stone cell,
and kept there a day or two, with moth
ing to lie upon, except the stone floor,
and with very little to eat. AS the at
tending physician is at the Asylum but
a few hours a day, the Manager or
keeper may confine violent patient,
and keep him confined as long as they
see fit.
During our visit the patients were
quiet and well-behaved, obeying at
once the orders of the Manager or at
tending physician. The food was for
the most part good and of sufficient
quantity but some of it was bad. The
patients are allowed to sit around any
where and eat, as there Is no dining
room or dining-room furniture
The dispensary of the Asylum has not
yet been found. There are no drugs,
surgical instruments, or proper appli- |
ances for restraining violent cases, ex-
cept the stone cell, in which the pa
tients are liable to iniure. themselves |
seriously. Fortunately there has never
been much sickness at the Asylum; il |
there had, there is literally nothing |
there to treat them with, and the pa
tients could get we'll or die, just as they
chose.
In view OF the existing condition of !
things, We do hereby make the follow
ing suggestions:
Flrst.-That medical superintend-
ent be appointed, who shall have full |
control OF the institution and be respon- |
sible for the management. He should |
reside at the Asylum and should have
the power to appoint and dismiss any
of the officers under him.
Second - That the superintendent
should have the following assistants
A purveyOr or steward, who should have !
the immediate duty of buying supplies,
the care and issuing of stores, the con-
troll of the kitchen department, and the
general care of the buildings and grounds, |
under the direction of the Superintend-
ent; a matron, one female nurse; seven !
male attendants, one chief cook and as
many assistant cooks as may be needed;
and such other officers or assistants as
the Superintendent may deem necessary
for the proper management OF the
Asylum
Third-That substantial freproof
building be built, after the most APP
proved plans for asylums, for the ac-
of 125 patients, and fully
equipped, and also that separate
residence be built upon the grounds for
he Superintendent.
Fourth-That water be laid on to the
Asylum grounds. All the water that
here now is in the institution has to be
obtained from the spring before men
ioned, and that is some distance from
he buildings. In case of fire, the build
ngs would have to burn down, and lives
would surely be lost; and, again, for
cleanliness, a large quantity OF water
hould be used, which now cannot be
lad
Fifth--A padded room should be at
nee constructed, for the protection Of
'ioIent cases.
Sixth-That a Board of Inspectors be
ppointed, to serve without pay, who